-- GOAL -- 1-0
Belgium earn a free-kick in the 7th minute -- curled into the top right-hand corner by Johan
Walem.

Belgium were very much in control and easily soaked up the
pressure as Russia tried to get back on terms.

Belgium continued to look the stronger side in the first
half-hour while Russia appeared to be in need of some fresh ideas already.

Alexei Smertin made way for Dmitry Sychev, with ten minutes still remaining in the
first-half.

An injury to Yuri Nikiforov, just before half-time, meant
Russia had only one more substitution left to correct things in the second-half.

Half-time: Belgium 1 -- Russia 0

Japan went in front, early in the second-half, to meant
that Belgium would meet Brazil in the Second Round.... if results stayed the same.

-- GOAL -- 1-1
Russia had ideas of their own and leveled the score to put them in second spot.... Dmitri
Khokhlov sent Dmitry Sychev down the left. The substitute's chip over the approaching
Geert De Vlieger, left Vladimir Beschastnykh with an open goal to score
in.

Belgium started to look disorganised, as Dmitry Sychev
continued to take on the Belgian rearguard and try to set his Russian team mates.

But for the missed chances, Russia could have added another
couple of goals to their tally.

In the other game, Japan consolidated their lead with a
second goal against Tunisia.

-- GOAL -- 3-1Marc Wilmots received the ball from Bart Goor, on the edge of the area,
wrong-footed Yuri Kovtun and hammered what must be the final nail in Russia's coffin;
eight minutes from time.

-- GOAL -- 3-2
18 year-old Dmitry Sychev still fancied a game against Brazil and was
first onto a lose ball in the Belgian area...... Russia still had a chance... level the
scores and they would join Japan in the Second Round.

Belgium had everyone back in defence as the Russian bench
all stood up to try and will the ball in during time added on.... Moscow time was
ticking.......